Windshield wiper attaching clip



NOV. 2.5, 1,9252 A RAPPL ET AL 2,618,805

WINDSHIELD WIPER ATTACHING CLIP Filed sept. 1o, 1945 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 DHuron EaP/m t .gf/nicho' C. 5c 111 m ulgfm ATTO NEYs Nov., 25, 1952 A.RAPPL. TAL 2,618,805

WINDSHIELD wIPER ATTACHING om Filed sept. 1o, 1945 2 SHEETS- Smm 2 ONEYS Patented Nov. 25, i952 NETE.

VJPER ATTACHENG @LEP .linten lltappl, Eggertsville, and Anthony C.Scinta, Eufialo, N. Y., assignors to 'llrico Products jor--` poration,Buffalo, N.

dppiioation September lil, libia, Serial No. @5,4%

(Cl. 15e-250) l2 iainis. i

This invention relates to the windshield cleaning art and has particularreference to a wiper blade and the mounting of the same on its actuating arm. Ordinarily, the wiper blade has been hooked into engagementwith its actuating arm with a degree of play designed to permit thewiping element assuming a rearwardly -olined dragging position as it isoscillated back and forth over the windshield surface. Sometimes thewindshield surface is only partially wet and, therefore, the wipingelement tends to cling more tenaciously to the glass surface, whichresults in an abnormal strain being placed upon the pivotal blademounting tending to jan/i the parts and deform the latter so that a truepivotal action will not result` Again, it is possible that the floplimiting means of the pivotal mounting have been otherwise displacedfrom their true location with the result that the wiper will fail toassume a proper wiping position and consequently will chatter across theglass with impaired vision. in some embodiments the pivotal mounting iscloser to one end of the blade than the other and under abnormalconditions an uneven strain on the opposite ends of the wiping elementwill act against the blade rocking over to its rearwardly inclinedposition at the beginning of the succeeding stroke. All of thesefactors, individually or combiner, to render the wiper inecient attimes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a wiper in which theinitial rocking movement of the blade on each strolre is controlled in adenite and practical manner so that the proper degree of inclination ofthe dragging wiper will be insured and the greatest eiiciency in wipingsecured.

Further, the invention has for its object to pro vide a wiper blademounting which is quiet in operation, the arrangement incorporatingmeans designed to eliminate the transmission of sound incidental to theinitial. roc-l ng of the blade.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in elevation depicting the wiper mechanism`embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional vieuT about on line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary "iew ci the mounting or connector,with parts removed;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the pintle members;

Fig. 5 is a inodied construction with one half of the connector beingremoved and Fig. 6 is a transverse section about on line 5--6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l designates awindshield wiper which is adapted to be oscillated across the windshieldsurface 2 by a carrying arm 3 anchored at its inner end to the actuatingsha-it l of the driving mechanism. The wiper or blade l is mounted onthe wiping arm by a connector in the form of a rubber block or body 5.This rubber body is formed with a tunneblike slot or chamber G forslidably and frictionally receiving the outer terminal or extremity l ofthe arm 3 and in order to more securely hold the wiper againstaccidental dislodgrnent longitudinally from the arm the extremity 'i iscurved as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, the slot or seat 5 is likewisecurved so as to compel a swinging movement of the wiper when mountingand demounting the same. The site of the body slot 6 will be suincientlysmall to snugly and frictionally engage the arm extremity so as to holdthe saine against jarring loose.

rEhe rubber body the term rubber including any lilre soit resilientmaterial, is formed with alined bearings ii extending lengthwise of thewiper and opening in opposite directions for receiving the pintles Elwhich are carried by the upstanding ears i@ on the wiping blade, or on acliplil e bracket i i xed thereto by a fastener i2. rThis provides amounting for the blade that permits the latter to rock about the axis ofthe alined pintles an axis which is substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the blade itself. Consequently, v/hen the wipercarrying arm t is oscillated the wiping blade will rock at the beginningof each stroke about a denitely xed axis to assume its rearwardlyinclined, dragging position with a most uniform result in ridding thewindshield surface of excess moisture. The extent of rocking movement isdetermined by the hat top facie it of the bracket l i coming intocontact with the under face Hi of the rubber body 5. By reason or" thiscushion-ed contact, the wiping blade is not only resliently backed byits carrying body 5 during each wiping stroke but any sound incidentalto the change of position of the wiping blade at the beginning of astroke is minimized.

A rnetal housing i5 may be provided to enclose the rubber body 5 forgiving support thereto and therewith to torni a wiper connector. Thishousing snugly nts the blade carrying rubber body and fully enclo es thesaine except at the underside which is open and from which the rubberbody extends, as shown most clearly at it in Figs. 2

and 3. This exposed portion l5 overhangs the surrounding margins of thehousing l5 so that there will be no direct metal to metal contact at anytime and therefore the underface I4 which is co-extensive with theextending portion will serve as a limiting buffer or stop. The top wallof the housing l5 is provided with an entrance way or opening I'I inregistry with one end of the slot 6 for introducing the arm terminalthereinto, while the end walls of the housing are formed with openingsi8 in registry with the bearings 3 to freely pass the pintles 9.

While the pintle 9 may be in the form of a single pin passing entirelythrough the blade mounting body l5 and have its opposite ends engaged inrubber sockets on the blade, is is preferable to reverse the arrangementand to separate the pintle into parts, as shown, since each part maythen be riveted to its particular ear I prior to assembly. As a furthermeans to facilitate the assembly of the blade mounting, the bracket Ilis formed in two sections with each section carrying an ear l0 and itscorresponding pintle part 9. Fig. 4 shows one of these sections, thebracket being severed along a diagonal line as indicated at i9. Toassemble the parts, the pintle parts 9 are inserted individually throughthe opposite ends of the housing and engaged in their respectivebearings 8 by sliding movement from the position shown in broken lines23 in Fig. 3. As the bracket sections, with their pintles, are broughtto their operative position, the diagonal margins I9 of the two bracketsections will abut each other and be held in such solid embrace by meansof the fastening rivet l2.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the wiper will pivot aboutthe definitely located axis of the pintle parts Q. Any abnormal strainplaced upon the wiper will be absorbed, the rubber body yielding on theterminal of the carrying arm to a very limited extent at such timeswithout interfering with the pivoting action.

If desired, the rubber mounting body may be formed in halves which maybe individually preshaped and then inserted in the metal housing Ithrough the lower open end where they will be retained in theiroperative relationship by the pintle parts 9 as well as by the curvedextremity 'l of the carrying arm.

A modied form of blade mounting is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 whereina keeper shoulder or lug 2l projects from the inner wall of the armreceiving tunnel or seat 6 for interlocking with a shoulder 22 on thearm extremity 'i'. The keeper lug is preferably rigid and may be formedon a spacer sleeve 23 interposed between the side walls of the housingI5 or it may be formed on any other portion of the blade mounting clip.In this embodiment the housing is divided in two sections along the lineof cleavage of the two halves of the rubber body 5', and likewise thespacer sleeve may be divided with one section being formed integral witheach housing section. The slot or seat 6 which receives the curvedextremity 'I' of the arm has its top wall relieved, as at 24, fornormally clearing the shoulder 22. The keeper lug 2l extends into thisgroove 24 to normally lie in the path of the shoulder. When it becomesnecessary to remove the wiper from its carrying arm, the free terminalof the latter is pressed downwardly within the rubber body 5 to thebroken line position 25 so as to displace the shoulder 22 outwardlybeyond the keeper lug, following which the blade may readily be swungfree of the arm.

Each division of the rubber mounting body may be formed with atransverse rib or air cushion 26 which extends below the underface i4and normally exerts a downward pressure on the pintle carrying bracketIl to urge the wiper to a position perpendicular to the windshieldsurface. The air cell 21 will enable the rib to readily yield. However,when the blade is at rest the rib 26 will serve to normalize the wiperwith respect to the windshield in a manner somewhat similar to thebuffer portion IE5 shown in the first described embodiment of theinvention. The air pocket 2l also facilitates the disengagement of thearm shoulder 22 from the keeper lug since the intermediate body portionmay yield downwardly more readily to the dotted line position 28 in Fig.5. The forward or leading edge of the locking shoulder 22 is preferablyinclined to readily pass over the keeper lug 2| when inserting the armin the seat during which operation the rubber body will yield to permitsuch passage. The bracket Il in this form of invention is unitarythroughout since the divisions of both the rubber body and the housingmay readily be assembled about the xedly related pintle parts 9 and,after being assembled, be secured in position by a rivet 29 passedthrough the sustaining spacer 23, as shown in Fig. 6.

The foregoing embodiments provide a cushioned wiper mounting which willabsorb the sound vibrations incidental to the flopping of the blade atthe start of each wiping stroke. The construction further enables thewiper to assume a uniform position of drag as it starts its sweep acrossthe windshild under the urge of the carrying arrn. The cushioned limitstop preferably overhangs the opposite sides of the bracket Il (l I) soas to give ample cushioned support for the blade in its inclined wipingposition.

While the foregoing description has been given in detail, it is notintended thereby to restrict the invention beyond the scope of theappended claims since the inventive principles involved are capable ofassuming other physical embodiments without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wiper blade having an arm connector, said connector having ayieldable body formed with an arm engaging seat, said blade havingspaced pintle parts extending inwardly toward each other into oppositelyfacing bearings in the body to pivotally mount the blade on theconnector.

2. A wiper blade element having an arm connector element formed with anarm seat for detachably receiving an arm, one of said elements havingopposed inwardly extending pintle parts engaged in outwardly facing andaxially aligned bearings in the other of said elements, and bracketmeans mounting the pintle parts in axially spaced relation on theirsupporting element.

3. A wiper blade having an arm connector body formed with an armreceiving seat, said blade having opposed and inwardly extending pintleparts engaged in outwardly facing bearings in the body, and bracketmeans mounting the pintle parts and having separable sections eachsupporting a pintle part to enable placement of the latter in itsbearing.

4. A wiper blade having a connector pivotally mounted thereon formovement about a longitudinal axis, said connector having a rubber bodyformed with an arm receiving seat and a housing enclosing the rubberbody to give sustaining support thereto, the rubber body projecting fromthe housing toward the wiper and beyond the pivotal axis to provide acushioned face engageable by the blade to limit the rocking movement ofthe latter on its connector.

5. A wiper blade having a pintle part, and an arm attaching clip havinga rubber body comprising relatively separable sections formed withcomplemental bearings assembled about the pintle part, and an invertedcupped housing in which the assembled sections are inserted and secured,the rubber body sections projecting from the housing and reactingagainst the blade to urge the latter to a position normal to thewindshield surface.

6. A wiper blade having aligned pintle parts on its back, and an armattaching clip formed of soft rubber and comprising relatively separablesections having complemental bearings assembled about the pintle parts,and means securing the sections together, the sections having portionsbetween the pintle parts and the blade seating substantially on the backof the blade and acting to urge the latter to an upright position on thesurface being wiped.

7. A wiper blade element having an arm connector element of rubberformed with an arm receiving seat, one of said elements having opposedpintle parts engaged in bearing parts in the other element, bracketmeans mounting one set of parts and having separable sections eachsupporting a part to enable placement of the latter in its operativeposition, and means securing the separable sections fixed to hold thepintle parts in their bearing parts.

8. A wiper blade having a pintle part, and an arm attaching clip havinga body of rubber comprising relatively separable sections formed withcomplemental bearings assembled about the pintle part, and an invertedcupped housing in which the assembled sections are inserted and secured,with the pintle part extending through opposed openings in the walls ofthe cupped housing and finding support in the bearings of the rubberbody sections.

9. A wiper blade, an arm attaching clip car ried thereby and having anarm receiving tunnel opening at one end, one wall of the tunnel beingconstituted of rubber for yielding from the opposing wall to permit theinsertion of an arm terminal in the tunnel, and a retaining shoulder onsuch opposing Wall within the tunnel for being engaged with a part on anactuating arm under the resilient urge of the rubber wall.

10. An arm attaching clip for a windshield wiper blade, said clip havinga wall with an opening leading into a chamber for receiving a curvedterminal of an actuating arm, the clip chamber having an internaltransverse shoulder beneath which such curved terminal engages and uponwhich it may slide to enable the blade adjusting itself to thewindshield surface about the curved terminal, such transverse shoulderbeing engageable on its far side by a shoulder on the arm terminal tosecure the clip on the arm when the latter is engaged with the clip, thetransverse shoulder being disposed in a lower plane from the entrancewayand the wall surface inwardly beyond the transverse shoulder beingrelieved to receive the arm shoulder to permit of such clip adjustmentalong the curved terminal.

11. An arm attaching clip for a windshield wiper blade, said clip havinga wall with an opening leading into a chamber for receiving a curvedterminal of an actuating arm, the clip chamber having an internaltransverse shoulder beneath which such vcurved terminal engages and uponwhich it may slide to enable the blade adjusting itself to thewindshield surface about the curved terminal, such transverse shoulderbeing engageable on its far side by a shoulder on the arm terminal tosecure the clip on the arm when the latter is engaged with the clip, thetransverse shoulder being disposed in a lower plane from the chamberopening and the chamber inwardly beyond the transverse shoulder beingprovided with a recess to receive the arm shoulder to permit of suchclip adjustment along the curved terminal, and spring means acting tosupport the curved terminal operatively related to the internaltransverse shoulder.

l2. A wiper blade, a superimposed attaching clip assembly formed with achamber opening toward the blade and having on its outer face anentranceway to receive the outer arcuate terminal of an actuating arm,said clip assembly including an inwardly projecting arcuate guide facewithin the chamber for nesting engagement in the arcuate portion of thearm, said arcuate guide face being interrupted by a transverse shoulder,and resilient means arranged within the chamber and normally exertingpressure against the arcuate portion of the arm to urge the same againstthe arcuate guide face to retain the arm thereagainst, said arm beingformed with an upwardly extending lug at its end portion for engagingsaid shoulder for holding the arm against lengthwise displacement whilepermitting adjustment of the blade on the guide face to a wipingposition on an associated part.

ANTON RAPPL. ANTHONY C. SCINTA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

